Car Hire - stung by 'admin charges' on a penalty

rockandkohl

Hi There,

this is a part consumer-rights query, part personal dilemma.

A few weeks ago, my friends and I hired a car to go to a festival. The girl who was driving arranged the hire car, but then discovered on the day that she didn't have enough on her debit car to pay the deposit. So we used my credit card for the hire fee and deposit.

Now, i just received some post from the hire firm, with a copy of a TFL congestion charge penalty fee for £60. I didn't even realise we'd gone into the zone, nor known we were liable for it. (I don't drive myself so don't know how things like this usually work with hire cars).

The hire firm has paid the £60 penalty, and charged it back to my credit card. they have also charged me a £29.80 'admin fee'.

I'm pretty annoyed that a) we incurred the charge in the first place b) that they've whacked an extra thirty quid on top and c) that the driver, who obviously had to read the T&C's etc when she got the car, was oblivious to these things.

I've found a copy of their T&Cs on the website (i can't post the link but if you're interested go to the Sixt website and see the T & C's button in the very bottom right-hand corner)

and clause 7.1.5 states we are liable for all traffic charges etc, and also any 'reasonable' admin charges incurred if they have to deal with them.

Can anyone advise how 'reasonable' is determined? and how do you think the £90 should be paid? 4 of us hired the car, but only 2 of us were in it when the congestion charge was incurred. should the driver take more responsibilty than the rest of us or should we all have checked the T&Cs?

any advice appreciated : /

Mupette

i would be inclined to thing the driver should of been aware (maybe the passenger too) of signage that states you are entering into a congestion zone.

Mupette

speaking to OH, he said the person who signed the contract is responsible to pay this bill... whether anyone else wants to chip in is up to them

Freddie_Snowbits

Reasonable would have been to pay the charge on the day!